In the courtyard of the large gated mansion, Nox was staring at Fluffington and Thirteen, his expression serious. Astralux was still inside playing with Wendy, so it was only the boys who were present.
Sensing the serious expression of his master, Thirteen stood upright, hands behind his back. His adorable face was also filled with seriousness, making it difficult for Nox to keep a straight face.
With a hand movement, two glowing orbs appeared in Nox's grasp—these were the elemental crystals. The two creatures' eyes lit up immediately upon seeing the crystals again.
It had taken all of their willpower not to devour these crystals when they found them in the cave that day. However, now that the crystals were once again in sight, the urge had returned, this time much fiercer.
Immediately, both Fluffington and Thirteen began to salivate.
"Calm yourselves, guys." Nox, sensing their hunger, couldn't help but chuckle as he patted the two furry heads. "After all, the two of you will still eat."
Fluffington and Thirteen's eyes widened in surprise. They could feel the palpable energy stored inside the crystals, waiting to be unleashed upon the world. They could tell it would greatly enhance their abilities. Was their master really giving them something as valuable as this?
'What? You think I can't give you something valuable?' Nox thought, feigning a light frown.
"No, we know you can. It's just a bit strange because we can feel the intense power radiating from that thing," Fluffington spoke, his cat-like eyes fixed on the crystal levitating just a few inches away from Nox. Thirteen nodded his head in agreement—his senior brother was very right!
"Well," Nox sighed, "I know you guys don't know this, but the reason I came to this place was to get these crystals for you two. Personally, I don't have any use for them... they'll be much more useful for you."
"What will happen if we eat them?" Fluffington asked, curiosity finding its way into his voice.
Nox winked and smiled mischievously. "It's a secret," he whispered, then paused and clapped his hands as a look of excitement appeared on his face. "Now it's the moment of truth. As the senior, it's only right for you to choose first." Nox turned to Fluffington and then looked at Thirteen. The cute panda merely shrugged, not finding anything wrong with this proposal.
"Alright then." Fluffington, on all paws, stepped forward as a thoughtful expression crossed his feline features. The cat stared at the two gleaming elemental crystals, his mind torn in two.
"Which one should I take?" the cat pondered. His gaze moved between the two elemental crystals—one shimmering with a cold, icy blue aura, and the other exuding a deep, mysterious shadowy energy. Fluffington narrowed his eyes, feeling the power pulsing from both. Each crystal radiated with strength, but he sensed a deeper connection with the dark energy of the shadow crystal.
The ice crystal, though powerful, felt foreign to him. Fluffington was fast and agile; the ice elemental skill would be more suitable for someone like Thirteen.
Thinking about this, Fluffington paced around the crystals, his tail swishing thoughtfully. Nox's calm gaze never left the cat. He knew this was a very important decision, one that would influence how the cat lived for the rest of his life, so he remained patient and understanding. Thirteen also watched with curiosity, but he respected seniority, standing back without any sign of impatience.
"I choose..." Fluffington began as he approached the shadow crystal, "the shadow crystal."
"Good choice," Nox nodded with a smile. After observing Fluffington and Thirteen's fighting styles, Nox had also thought about giving the shadow crystal to the feline since he was more agile in battle. He planned to give the other crystal to Thirteen but, not wanting his pets to feel forced, he had let the eldest one choose first.
"Alright, it's your turn." Nox looked at Thirteen, who was already cradling the ice crystal in his hands. The panda was staring at the crystal in amazement, even licking it. Like Fluffington, this had also been his first choice from the beginning. The panda glanced up at Nox as if asking if he could eat the crystal already.
Nox pondered for a moment. According to the books, after consuming the crystal, a magical beast would undergo a transformation. However, Nox didn't know how long the transformation would last or if it would be painful. Because of this, he rushed over to Eve, who was engrossed in studying a book.
"Master, could you keep an eye out for me just in case something goes wrong?" he asked.
Eve stared out of the window, her eyes locking on Fluffington and Thirteen, who were licking their respective elemental crystals. She shrugged, not finding anything wrong with her disciple's request. From her spot on the top floor, she could see everything happening in the courtyard. If things went south, she would be there in seconds.
After sorting that out, Nox returned to his pets, who were already dying of anticipation... Why was their master taking so long? Why couldn't he just give them the green light?
Nox chuckled at their impatient expressions. "Alright, you two. Go ahead."
At his words, both Fluffington and Thirteen wasted no time. The shadow crystal hovered toward Fluffington, while the ice crystal floated toward Thirteen. Their eyes gleamed with excitement, hunger practically radiating from their bodies as the crystals approached their mouths.
As soon as the crystals touched their lips, they shattered into energy, instantly enveloping both creatures. Shadowy mist swirled around Fluffington, dark tendrils creeping across his body, while a frosty mist encased Thirteen, dropping the temperature around him. Both of them were swallowed by their respective elements—shadow and ice—filling the courtyard with thick, swirling fog.
Nox watched silently, his expression filled with both anticipation and concern. The power radiating from both transformations was immense. Even from his distance, he could feel the oppressive force of the shadow and the freezing chill of the ice. He was forced back a few steps as frost began to cover the cobblestone ground.
At that moment, the fog grew denser, hiding both creatures from view. The energy within the courtyard became suffocating—but not enough to force Nox out. He could sense that, unlike when his beasts leveled up by absorbing beast cores, this was no ordinary transformation. It was much more powerful.
Minutes passed, and a gust of powerful aura poured out from the fog as if something was about to emerge.
Just as the shapes of Fluffington and Thirteen started to become visible through the haze, the energy spiked suddenly—
And then everything went still.
The next moment, the haze began to clear.